Dynamo midfielder: "Yarmolenko came on, scored two goals, and then left the field."

Midfielder of Dynamo, Alexander Pikhalenok shared his thoughts on the 3:3 draw in the Europa League match against Galatasaray. Veteran Andriy Yarmolenko scored a brace after coming on in the second half.

– Alexander, today was a very emotional match.

– The emotions were very positive. The stadium was packed, and the support was incredibly loud. It was a pleasure, even though we were playing away. I think this is the first time I’ve heard such loud support from fans here. It’s great that we earned our first point in the tournament in such a tough match; now we will aim for victory in the next game.

– So you claim that this was the loudest support from fans in your career?

– Perhaps only Hampden Park, which I visited with the Ukrainian national team, can rival Galatasaray’s stadium, but I didn’t play there; I watched the game from the bench.

– Did the atmosphere in the stands affect the Galatasaray players? By the middle of the first half, the home team was leading by two goals.

– I would say it’s more about concentration. It’s clear that when the home crowd pushes forward, it’s easier to attack. But I believe it all depends on concentration – we lost a player somewhere, unfortunately conceded quick goals. But then we regrouped and scored one back. I haven’t seen the penalty incident yet; I’m curious about what happened there... And after that, thank God, we equalized. Even at 3:3, if we had managed the ball better, we could have hoped for a win. But it’s good that it ended that way, as the hosts also had their moments. Overall, it was a draw.

– Did Vanat’s goal just before halftime bring Dynamo back into the game? What did you discuss in the locker room?

– I believe so, because whenever you score just before halftime, even if it’s 0:2, that goal gives the team a boost.

– There was a double substitution at halftime. What instructions did you and Andriy Yarmolenko receive before going back on the field?

– To play more forward, to press harder in the midfield, which we tried to implement. Yarmolenko came on, scored two – and left the field (laughs).

– But you provided the assist for the second goal when you took the corner kick.

– You could say that. He scored a brace in the match, making a significant contribution to achieving this result.

– Did Yarmolenko’s return to the field give the team more strength and confidence?

– Of course, it does. He is an example for us both on and off the field.